Heart muscle regeneration in artificial heart patients could redefine heart failure treatment.

Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can
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Current Challenges in Heart Failure Treatment
Heart failure has no cure, though medications can slow its progression. For advanced cases, the only options are transplants or mechanical support like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), which help pump blood. Unlike skeletal muscles, which can regenerate after injury, heart muscles lose their ability to heal themselves after birth.The team analyzed tissue from artificial heart patients, provided by collaborators at the University of Utah Health and School of Medicine, led by Dr. Stavros Drakos. Their findings, published in Circulation, showed that patients with artificial hearts regenerated heart muscle cells at six times the rate of healthy individuals.
“This is the strongest evidence we have that human heart muscle cells can regenerate,” said Dr. Sadek. “It highlights the intrinsic potential of the human heart to heal.”
New Pathways for Treatment
The study suggests that the inability of the heart muscle to “rest” could be a key factor in its loss of regenerative ability. By targeting molecular pathways involved in cell division, researchers hope to enhance the heart’s capacity to regenerate.This discovery opens doors to revolutionary treatments, offering hope for millions of heart failure patients. Researchers aim to further explore the mechanisms behind this regeneration to develop therapies that could transform heart failure management.
Reference:
- Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can - (https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/news/releases/can-heart-heal-itself-new-study-says-it-can)
Source-Medindia